Gibson, the former chief-of-staff of the Long Branch Housing Authority, is facing sexual harassment allegations. Ryan Ross and Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press

LONG BRANCH – Six former and current Long Branch Housing Authority employees are suing the agency, alleging they were subjected to repeated sexual harassment from an ex-chief of staff.

They’re seeking an undisclosed amount of money in compensatory and punitive damages.

The plaintiffs, who are identified in the lawsuit only by their initials, described a “hostile workplace” in which their jobs were threatened if they didn’t comply with the sexual demands allegedly sought by Daniel Gibson, a former chief of staff.

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The “Welcome to Long Branch” sign along Cedar Avenue.

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The lawsuit names Gibson, 70, former Executive Director Tyrone Garrett, 48, and the city of Long Branch, as well as the housing authority, as defendants.

The harassment was described in the lawsuit as “persistent stalking, sexual propositioning, sexually explicit questions and comments, and unwelcome physical touching and assault.”

See the full lawsuit at the bottom of this story.

In one allegation, plaintiff S.W. claimed Gibson held her over a toilet while he tried to force sexual intercourse on her. S.W. fought back and alleges Gibson had her fired shortly thereafter, the suit claimed.

The plaintiffs’ initials are provided instead of their names to shield their identity, which the complaint said is allowed by laws that protect victims claiming sexual offenses.

The lawsuit was filed Feb. 22 in state Superior Court in Essex County.

The lawsuit alleges the authority’s former Executive Director Garrett “was fully aware of … Gibson’s conduct and purposely looked the other way.”

Garrett also “failed to take any steps in stopping (Gibson’s) unlawful conduct or taking any remedial measures to address the hostile and unsafe work environment,” according to the lawsuit.

The suit claims that three of the plaintiffs were subject to assault, battery and false imprisonment from Gibson. The suit does not state if the alleged acts were reported to law enforcement officials.

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Garrett and Gibson worked together at the Newark Housing Authority before coming to Long Branch. Garrett was hired by Long Branch in 2001.

The Press has made an Open Public Record’s request for Gibson’s employment dates. According to the lawsuit, Gibson’s purported harassment started in 2007.

The lawsuit also claims the LBHA’s anti-harassment policies were ineffective.

This is the second harassment lawsuit against the agency in the last six years. The first one was settled for $25,000 in 2017 and involved the former head of security Cornelius Walker, who allegedly discriminated against and sexually harassed Rosella Coleman.

Coleman was employed as a security guard during the time of the alleged harassment.

The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights investigated the LBHA in 2016 during the Coleman lawsuit and found the authority failed to maintain adequate anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies under the state’s Law Against Discrimination.

As a result of the 2017 settlement, the authority’s staff had to take training on New Jersey’s discrimination and harassment laws.

According to the latest lawsuit, Gibson “was absent for much of the training session,” and the hostile working conditions continued at the housing authority despite the training sessions.

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